Pakistani authorities are under criticism over the reconstruction of the Vedic-era city of Taxila
The United Nations has asked Pakistan to reverse “reconstruction operations” that have undermined the integrity of two historic sites in Taxila, warning that failure to act would result in them being placed on UNESCO’s “danger list”.Taxila, known in ancient times as Takshashila, is one of the most important archaeological sites in South Asia. Its origins go back to the Vedic period, where the city featured prominently in Hindu epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.UNESCO, the cultural arm of the United Nations, told senior government officials at a recent meeting that it would not hesitate to “write off” the historic sites in Mohra Murado and Sirkap, citing recent “unnecessary interferences.”
She reportedly reminded officials that she had previously removed a World Heritage site in Germany due to similar issues.The controversy came to light in March after a visitor and a whistleblower exchanged information and photos with Pakistan’s permanent representative to UNESCO in Paris, highlighting the reconstruction work being carried out by the Punjab Archeology Department. The visitor noticed that the original walls had been replaced with new construction or their height had been raised, interventions that could affect the authenticity and integrity of the property.
The images showed new masonry replacing the old walls, with the modern building materials appearing polished and uniform in size, clearly distinguishable from the old, irregular stones.
Punjab Archeology Department advocates for interventions
Last month, UNESCO, the Department of Antiquities and Museums (DOAM), the Ministry of National Heritage and the Cultural Division made a joint technical visit to the Taxila Museum. UNESCO has requested specific documents on Mohra Murado and Serkap, including heritage impact assessment reports and photographic documentation of the structures before and after restoration.However, DOAM officials have warned that using cement to build walls at world heritage sites is a serious violation of UNESCO rules. The fear is not just technical, but diplomatic: Pakistan, which has been trying to include 24 additional sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997, risks undermining its credibility.The Director General of the Punjab Antiquities Department, Malik Zaheer Abbas, refused to describe the work as reconstruction.
“The interventions being implemented are protection measures based on internationally accepted conservation principles, with the primary aim of stabilizing the vulnerable archaeological remains, preventing further deterioration, and preserving the authenticity and integrity of these World Heritage properties,” he said.“The works are conservation interventions, not reconstruction,” Abbas added, stressing that there is no scope for canceling the work.
Past threats and deeper fears
This is not the first time Taxila has faced the threat of being placed on the “danger list.” In 1998, Pir Hill, adjacent to the Taxila Museum, was put on the list after the then Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, MNA, agreed to build a stadium on the site. The project was later postponed after public outcry.The current controversy has raised broader questions about heritage management in Pakistan. Critics argue that the Taxila Archaeological Heritage Master Plan (2055), which was largely designed within urban planning and engineering frameworks, privileges visitor experience over archaeological integrity. Experts have noted that the earthen courtyards at Mohra Muradu have been paved with modern mortar, and the ancient irregular masonry has been replaced with uniform stonework.As one analysis put it: “Taxila has survived empires, invasions and centuries of neglect, but it may not survive our well-meaning impatience.”
